Coin and check separator



May 4, 1943. w. PATZER ETAL COIN AND CHECK SEPARATOR Filed March 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Willz'cznz/Pagjez' WaZtez'A. Taai ck INVENTORS 5/ 77am, Il /0M5 May 4, 1943. w. P-ATZER ETAL I 2,318,520

COIN AND CHECK SEPARATOR Mill 0 72% er WbZlez-A Trizsck mvmons Patented May 4, 1943 COIN AND CHECK SEPARATOR William Patzer and Walter A. Tratsch, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 22, 1941, Serial No. 384,642

8 Claims.

This invention relates to coin and check separators and more particularly to gravity chutes of the type adapted to separate valid coins from the invalid coins.

It is an object of this invention to employ in gravity type coin chutes the thermo-couple principle to detect the metallic characteristic of coins deposited in the chute and to utilize the impulse created through a valid deposited coin to eilect passage of such coin to an acceptance runway.

It is another object of this invention to provide in gravity type coin chutes employing a thermocouple test a novel arrangement of testing means whereby only coins or tokens of a particular diameter will effect operation of the testing means.

It is another object of this invention to utilize in a gravity feed chute employing the thermocouple principle, a portion of the thermo-couple unit as a coin blocking means for retaining a coin in the testing area of the chute.

A still further object of this invention is the provision in gravity coin chutes of a testing chamber at the point of juncture of a pair of separating runways where a coin by its own gravitational movement can efiect operation of the mechanism to permit passage of valid coins to an acceptance opening.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly as the structure is described in view of the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a chute structure with a portion of the front wall removed to display the interior thereof;

Fig. 2 is an elevation view of the side opposite the side seen in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional detail view through the thermo-couple testing means employed in the chute and is substantially as seen from line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a lever mechanism as seen from line 44 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational detail partly in section of the scavenger control mechanism as seen from line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional detail view through a coin chute showing the coin retaining means at the testing chamber and the electromagnetic means associated therewith; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical circuit embodied in the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, l indicates a body structure within which there is formed a coin passage ll consisting of an initial runway l2 adapted to receive coins from an entrance hopper l3, and a pair of secondary runways I 4 and l which may be termed acceptance and reject runways respectively.

In the present disclosure, the acceptance runway is formed beneath the terminus l2 of the initial runway l2 while the reject runway is oilset from the terminus l2 and communicates with the latter through the bypass runway It. At the point of juncture of these coin runways there is an area which is termed the testing chamber I 1 where valid coins are segregated from the invalid coins by means now to be described.

A trap ledge I8 extends through an opening l9 formed in one wall of the chute body It) and is carried by an upright arm 20 which is fixedly connected to the armature 21 of an electromagnetic means 22 with the armature 2| urged by spring means 23 into normal position (Fig. 6). The ledge I8 is arranged on the same plane as the lower edge l6 of the bypass runway l6 so as to normally direct coins to the right (Fig. 1) and to normally prevent coins from gravitating into the acceptance runway l4.

The testing means provided in this invention operates on the thermo-couple principle. To accomplish the resultant tests we employ the following novel combination and arrangement of parts. There is provided in this testing means a coin blocking pin 24 which extends through an opening 25 formed in the back wall of the body Ill and this pin 24 is normally adapted to block the passage of coin elements into the bypass l6 of the reject runway l5. This pin member 24 is formed as a part of the thermo-couple unit and is preferably though not necessarily formed of metal silver because of the excellent heat conductivity of such metal. As seen in Fig. 3 the pin means 24 is formed as a lateral extension of a main rod 26 bent at right angles to the pin 24 and normally disposed in a supporting structure 21 which is pivotally mounted as at 28 in a trunnion 29 carried by the body Ill. The support 21 is of a non-conductive material and has a recess formation 30 in which there is arranged a heating element 3i surrounding the major portion of the rod 26. The heating element 3| is arranged in circuit connection through conductors 32 with plug means 33 adapted to be connected with volt A. C. or D. C. current. When the element 3| is connected to a source of power there will be created a heat, by reason of the resistance coil in the element 3|, of a range from to 200 and this temperature will be transmitted to th bar 26 and the pin member 24.

A second pin means 35 extends into the chamber I! through an opening 36 in the rear wall of the body and this pin means 35 is supported by a lever 31 pivotally arranged at 38 on the body Hi, there being a hair spring 39 adapted to normally retain the pin 35 against the right hand edge of the opening 36, Fig. 1. The pins 35 and 24 are arranged in spaced relationship with respect to each other and at a point above the trap ledge it so that a coin resting on the ledge I8 will by gravity lean upon the pin 24 and if it is of a proper diameter it will effect a movement of the pin 35 in a direction away from the pin means 2-3 with a positive contact of the pins 24 and 35 against the peripheral edge of said coin. It is apparent that the pins 2 3-35 may be so spaced that a coin having a lesser diameter than a proper coin cannot possibly engage both of the pins while resting on the trap it, that is in the present instance, the chute is adaptedL for valid five cent pieces such as a nickel. If a coin having physical properties like unto the alloy of a valid nickel, such for instance as the five centavos minted by the Mexican Government, such five centavos are of a diameter less than the diameter of a valid nickel and for that reason will not span the gap between the pin 24 and the pin 35.

When the pin means is moved by a coin into the dotted line position, the lever means 31 will likewise pivot into the dotted line position, Fig. 2, there being an obliquely extending arm element at having its end portion 4! struck at right angles to extend through an opening 42 in the Wall of the body Iii, which extension A] will pass downward into coin obstructing position in the initial runway 12 to block additional coins from passage into the testing chamber while there is a valid coin disposed between the pin means 3524.

Due to the diiier'ence in temperature between the pin 24 and the pin 35, the coin disposed in engagement with these two pins will create an electric impulse which impulse will be transmitted to a galvanoscope 43 through conductor means 4-4 extending from the rod 25 and conductor means 55 connected to the movable pin 35. This slight impulse will then cause a needle armature 46 on the galvanoscope to assume a circuit closing condition. There is provided on the coin chute body a pair of flashlight dry cells 46 arranged in a suitable housing 48 and coupled with one terminal connected by conductor 49 to the coil 50 of the electromagnetic means 22 and the opposite terminal of the cells 47 connected by conduit 51 to one side of a galvanometer switch 52, the opposite side of the switch 52 being connected by conductor 53 through a normally closed trip switch 54' to the opposite side of the coil 5% of the electromagnetic means 22.

When the galvanometer has been energized as aforesaid by the impulse to cause the needle '16 to assume circuit closing condition across the switch 52, current will flow from the battery into the galvanoscope to hold the circuit closed "and also into the 0011 5!? of the electro'magnet '22 to energize the latter.

Energization of the coil '59 will attract the armature 2! against action of coil spring 23, Fig. 6, causing the armature, the upright arm 2t and the trap ledge l8 to assume dotted line position with the trap l8 withdrawn from coin supporting position whereupon the coin which initiated the impulse across the pins 2 l--35 tv'ill drop by gravity into the acceptance opening it and its gravitation will engage the nose portion 55 of a balance lever 55 pivotally arranged at 51 on a supporting arm formed as a part of the electromagnetic means 22. One side 56 of the switch 54 is carried by the free end of the lever 56 and by reason of the movement aforesaid, through engagement with a coin, circuit will be broken at the switch 56 to deenergize the galvanoscope and the coil 50 whereupon the needle it will, by spring means associated therewith, return to a normal position as seen in Fig. 7, while the armature 2! will be returned to normal full line position, Fig. 6, by the spring to again dispose the ledge E8 in coin obstructing position.

The foregoing operation of the electromagnet 22 and the releasing of the holding circuit by reason of the coin tripping the lever 55 is a relatively quick operation and for that reason any additional coin held in the initial runway l2 by the lateral extension 42 will be freed the instant the first or tested coin is released by the trap l8 and will be obstructed from passage into the acceptance opening by reason of the trap ledge l8 returning to its initial position as soon as the tested coin has passed the lever 55-5B. In the event the coin deposited is not of a proper metallic characteristic to create a sufrlcient impulse such coin will be retained in the testing chamber. There is provided a scavenger mechanism for freeing such improper coins from the testing chamber and this means comprises a lever $8 pivotally mounted as at 59 on the rear wall of the body It and adapted when depressed and swung in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 5 to engage a lateral pin 68 on a rocking lever 6i to pivot the latter at 62 in a clockwise direction and cause a cam member 63 on its lower free end to engage an upstanding plate 6d carried by the pivoted supporting element 2i to pivot the latter clockwise Figs, 3 and 4 against the action of spring means 65 coiled about the pin forming the pivotal axes 28 for the member 2?. This swinging movement of the supporting means 21 (dotted lines Fig. 3) causes the pin means 24 to withdraw from its normal coin blocking position in the body of the chute I ll whereupon any coin normally blocked in the testing chamber will be freed to move down the incline of the ledge 18 through the by-pass [6 for rejection from the machine. As soon as the depressing force is removed from the lever 58, the spring means 65 will return the supporting element 21 to initial position with the pin means 24 again disposed in coin blocking position and ready for operation upon the deposit of another coin.

It is apparent that we have provided in a gravity type coin chute a testing means which is effective to release the particular coin tested if it be of a proper denomination and of a predetermined metallic characteristic, by completing a circuit across a pair of contact points which function as a thermo-couple. The arrangement of parts is such that the elements that are embodied in the thermo-couple testing means likewise function to accomplish additional purposes, that is, the one contact'element 24 acts as a coin blocking means, and the contact element 35 cooperates with the contact 24 to gauge the diameter of the coin being tested.

Having thus described our invention we desire to avail ourselves of all the forms and modifications of the combination of elements coming within the scope of the appended claims.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction -for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a gravity type coin chute comprising a body having formed therein an initial passage and an acceptance and reject passage, coin obstructing means normally disposed to overlie the acceptance passage to direct coins toward said reject passage, an electric circuit, a thermo-couple in said circuit and arranged at the point of juncture of said passages and including a pre-heated relatively fixed contact adapted to block passage of coins into said reject passage and a movable contact extending into said passage and adapted to be engaged by a coin of proper diameter and metallic characteristics in conjunction with the relatively fixed contact to set up an electric current in said circuit, and electromagnetic means in said circuit and arranged on said body and having an armature connected to said coin obstructing means and adapted to withdraw the latter from above said acceptance passage in response to said impulse aforesaid, a supporting means for said relatively fixed contact, means for mounting said supporting means and said relatively fixed contact for pivotal movement in a direction transversely of said coin passage and scavenger means arranged on said body and operatively engaging said supporting means and adapted to be operated to move the latter to effect withdrawal of said relatively fixed contact from coin blocking position.

2. In a gravity type coin chute comprising a body having formed therein an initial passage and an acceptance and a reject passage communicating with said initial passage, coin obstructing means normally disposed to overlie the acceptance passage to direct coins toward said reject passage, an electric circuit, a thermo-couple arranged at the point of juncture of said passages and including a relatively fixed pre-heated contact arranged in said circuit and disposed across said reject passage to block movement of coins therealong and a movable contact in said circuit and arranged across said passage in spaced relation to said fixed pre-heated contact, each of said contacts extending into said passage above said obstructing means and adapted to be engaged by a coin of proper diameter and metallic characteristics to set up an electric current in said circuit, and electromagnetic means connected in said circuit and arranged on said body and having an armature carrying said coin obstructing means and adapted to withdraw the latter from above said acceptance passage when an electric circuit is set up as aforesaid, and means for effecting withdrawal of said relatively fixed pre-heated contact from said reject passage to permit gravitation of coins therealong.

3. In a gravity type coin chute comprising a body having formed therein an initial passage and an acceptance and a reject passage communicating with said initial passage, coin obstructing means normally disposed to overlie the acceptance passage to direct coins toward said reject passage, an electric circuit, a thermo-couple arranged at the point of juncture of said passages and including a pre-heated contact arranged in F nected to said trap said circuit and disposed across said reject passage to block movement of coins therealong and a movable contact in said circuit and arranged across said passage in spaced relation to said pre-heater contact, each of said contacts extending into said passage above said obstructing means and adapted to be engaged by a coin of proper diameter and metallic characteristics to set up an electric current in said circuit, electromagnetic means connected in said circuit and arranged on said body and having an armature carrying said coin obstructing means and adapted to withdraw the latter from above said acceptance passage when an electric current is set up as aforesaid, means supporting said pre-heated contact on said body for pivotal movement into and out of said reject passage, means normally urging said pre-heated contact into said reject passage as aforesaid, and manually operable means arranged on said body and engaging said pre-heated contact to move the latter out of said reject passage to permit coins to gravitate along said reject passage.

4. In a gravity type coin chute having a main runway terminating into a pair of secondary runways, the combination of a thermo-couple arranged at the juncture of said runways for'setting up an electrical impulse of current when a valid coin is deposited in said chute and comprising an electric circuit embodying a preheated fixed contact arranged in said circuit and extending into said runway to block passage of a coin into one of said secondary runways, a pendant contact arranged in said circuit, means pendantly supporting said pendant contact in said runway in spaced relation with respect to said fixed contact so as to engage the periphery of a coin, means pivotally arranged on said chute and adapted to carry said "fixed contact, trap means arranged over the other one of said secondary runways and adapted to retain a coin between said fixed contact and said pendant contact, electromagnetic means arranged in said circuit and operatively conand adapted when energized to withdraw said trap from coin retaining position, said fixed and pendant contacts adapted when engaged by a coin of proper metallic characteristics to set up an electrical impulse of current in said circuit, and means for effecting pivotal movement of said means pivotally arranged on said chute to withdraw said fixed contact from blocking position relative to said one of said secondary runways.

5. In a device of the class described, a housing having formed therein a coin passage including an entrance chute terminating into acceptance and reject runways, trap means normally disposed above said acceptance runway to obstruct coins from passing thereinto and to direct coins toward said reject runway, electromagnetic means having an armature adapted to carry said trap means and to withdraw the latter from coin obstructing position when the electromagnetic means is energized, an electrical circuit for said electromagnetic means for the purpose of energizing the latter, means for efiecting operation of said electrical circuit for the purpose aforesaid and including coin testing means including a thermo couple consisting of a preheated bar pivotally arranged on the housing and having a laterally extending pin connected in said electrical circuit and arranged for movement into and out of coin blocking position to block coins against movement toward the reject runway as aforesaid and a movable pin means connected in said electrical circuit and extending across said runway in a region adjacent said laterally extending pin in such manner that a valid coin resting on said trap will engage both of the .pin means aforesaid to create an electrical impulse in said circuit, and means for effecting movement of said pro-heated bar out of coin blocking position to permit gravitation of spurious coins toward said reject runways.

6. In a device of the class described, a housing having formed therein a coin passage including an entrance chute terminating into acceptance and reject runways, trap means normally disposed above said acceptance runway to obstruct coins from passing thereinto and to direct coins toward said reject runway, electromagnetic means having an armature adapted to carry said trap means and to withdraw the latter from coin obstructing position when the electromagnetic means is energized, an electrical circuit for said electromagnetic means for the purpose of energizing the latter, means for effecting operation of said electrical circuit for the purpose aforesaid and including coin testing means including a thermo couple consisting of a pro-heated bar pivotally arranged on the housing and having a laterally extending pin connected in said electrical circuit and arranged for movement into and out of coin blocking position to block coins against movement toward the reject runway as aforesaid and a movable pin means connected in said electrical circuit and extending across said runway in a region adjacent said laterally extending pin in such manner that a'vali'd coin resting on said trap will engage both of the pin means aforesaid to create an electrical impulse in said circuit, manually operable lever means pivotally arranged on said housing and engaging said pro-heated bar and adapted upon operation to move the laterally extending pin out of coin blocking position.

'7. In a coin testing means comprising a body having a testing chamber formed therein with an entrance above said chamber and adapted to direct coins toward said chamber and with an acceptance and a reject exit formed beneath the chamber and communicating with and adapted to receive coins from the latter, coin supporting means adapted to assume a normal position overlying said acceptance exit and adapted to direct coins toward said reject exit, pin means pivot'ally arranged on said body, means for urging said pin means into blocking position for preventing coins from entering said reject exit, a heat producing element associated with said pin means to pro-heat the latter, coin engaging means in said chamber in spaced relation with respect to said pin means and adapted to engage a coin of a predetermined diameter disposed in blocked position against said pin means, an electrical circuit, said pin means and said coin engaging means being arranged in said circuit and adapted to coact with each other when a coin of proper metallic characteristics is disposed between the latter as aforesaid to create an electric current in said circuit, an electromagnetic means on said body and including a coil connected in said circuit and an armature arranged adjacent said coil for movement by the latter, said armature being operatively connected to said coin supporting means and normally disposing the latter in the aforementioned position overlying said acceptance exit and adapted to be moved by said coil when an electric current is created as aforesaid to withdraw said coin supporting means out of said normal position, and manually operable means for pivoting said pin means out of blocking position to permit coins to pass toward said reject exit.

8. In a coin testing means comprising a body having a testing chamber formed therein with an entrance above said chamber and adapted to direct coins toward said chamber and with an acceptance and a reject exit formed beneath the chamber and communicating with and adapted to receive coins from the latter, coin supporting means adapted to assume a normal position overlying said acceptance exit and adapted to direct coins toward said reject exit, pin means pivotally arranged on said body, means for urging said pin means into blocking position for preventing coins from entering said reject exit, a heat producing element associated with said pin means to pro-heat the latter, coin engaging means in said chamber in spaced relation with respect to said pin means and adapted to engage a coin of a predetermined diameter disposed in blocked position against said pin means, an electrical circuit, said pin means and said coin engaging means being arranged in said circuit and adapted to coact with each other when a coin of proper metallic characteristics is disposed between the latter as aforesaid to create an electric current in said circuit, an electromagnetic means on said body and including a coil connected in said circuit and an armature arranged adjacent said coil for movement by the latter, said armature being operatively connected to said coin supporting means and normally disposing the latter in th aforementioned position overlying said acceptance exit and adapted to be moved by said coil when an electric current is created as aforesaid to withdraw said coin supporting means out of said normal position, and control means on said body and in operative engagement with said pin means and adapted when operated -to urge said pin means out of the aforementioned blocking position.

PATZER. WALTER A. TRATSCH. 

